Russell Brand: I've never voted

Despite taking over political magazine New Statesman as guest editor for one issue, the comedian admits he has never cast a single vote in a UK election because he doesn't believe in the British government system.

Speaking to BBC programme 'Newsnight', he told host Jeremy Paxman: "I don't vote. I don't get my authority from this pre-existing paradigm which is quite narrow and only serves a few people. I look elsewhere for alternatives that might be of service to humanity. Alternate means or systems."

When an incredulous Jeremy questioned his capabilities to discourse on politics, Russell insisted he was passionate about finding an alternative system which wouldn't leave the working class "disillusioned" and "despondent".

He said: "It's am not that I am not voting out of apathy; I am not voting out of absolute indifference and weariness and exhaustion from the lies, treachery and deceit of the political class that has been going on for generations and has now reached fever pitch where we have a disillusioned, despondent underclass that are not being represented by that political class so voting for it is tacit complicate for that system."

Russell, 38, also went on to complain that British society contributed to his former addiction to heroin, because the political system in place creates problems like substance abuse.

He stated: "Well I was busy being a drug addict at that point because I come from the kind of social conditions that were exacerbated by that system ... Drug addiction is one of the problems it creates when you have a huge undeserved impoverished populations."

Russell wants a "revolution" from below and is adamant he won't vote until something changes.

He enthused: "Yes I am calling for revolution! I'm saying, 'When there is a genuine alternative or option, then vote for that. But until then, don't bother'."